www.visitcalhouncounty.com
Regardless of what your vacation checklist consists of, we have invigorating outdoors, amazing cultural sights, mouth-watering food and Southern hospitality all wrapped into one amazing destination. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing overnight getaway or for a one of a kind adventure, Calhoun County is the natural attraction.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Each year, visitors come from all over the south east and cyclists come from all over the world, to see and compete in the Sunny King Criterium. No crit is complete without a festival. The Sunny King Crit is accompanied annually by the Noble Street Festival, complete with a KidZone of rides and activity, a Music Cafe, and Taste of Noble selection of regional restaurants.For 2015, we also showcased local artists at a "Pop Up" show along Noble Street, displaying pieces from Metalworks to Paintings, Graphic Design and more. This year was a bit cold and breezy, but that didn't stop locals from exploring the vendors and cheering on the events.

The weather also didn't stop local cyclists from taking on their own challenge with the Iron Mountain Challenge. Formerly the Woodland-Calhoun County Challenge, this route of various lengths, 25 to 100 miles, Cyclists begin at the Anniston Aquatics Center and take routes along 431 and 204 or along the Ladiga Trail. Those who choose the 100 mile route, take in beautiful landscapes of Dugger Mountain and Bains Gap for memorable sights and climbs.
Then on Sunday, racers took to Bains Gap for the Fort McClellan Road Race. The Men's Pro took to the 20 loop over Bains Gap four times, and you can ask any local cyclists, it's not an easy climb just once.

The weekend didn't stop there! Each Spring Janney Furnace Park hosts a reenactment on both Saturday and Sunday. The day is filled with music, food, vendors and a reenactment battle. Although Janney Furnace never went into production producing pig iron, during the Civil War, the union soldiers burned the shacks, and the brick chimney still stands today.Near the H. Neely Henry Dam on the Coosa in Ohatchee, there still stands a marker remembering the Battle of "Ten Islands." On July 14, 1864, a Confederate Calvary was overwhelmed by Union Calvary Force while attempting to protect Janney Iron Works. After the Union destroyed the Iron Works, they proceeded south to Talladega.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Retrace Hernando DeSoto’s expedition through the south over 450 years
ago. Explore the caverns, the Lost Maze, and pan for gold and gemstones. The
park features a picnic area, camping, hiking, and activities for the whole
family. For more information, visit www.desotocavernspark.com.

Floating Fun

Alabama’s ‘Premier Tube Trip’ with many tubes in stock, offers a
floating fun trip down Choccolocco Creek, with a variety of rapids and a steady
current to enjoy. For more information, visit www.floatingfun.net.

Talladega Superspeedway

and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Live life in the fast lane! Visit the fastest closed track in the world
with records exceeding 200 miles per hour. This track hosts two major stock car
races annually.

The museum, adjacent to the track, showcases vehicles that have set
world records, antique automobiles, speed boats, planes, and more. They are
open daily from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. For more information, visit www.motorsportshalloffame.com.

Noccalula Falls

Gadsden

Gaze upon this beautiful waterfall that plunges 90 feet into a rock
gorge. This landmark is named after Noccalula, the legendary Indian Princess,
who leaped to her death into the waters below. Other features include the
Pioneer Village, a train ride, campgrounds, and picnic areas.

Cherokee Rock Village

Leesburg

Marvel atop the Lookout Mountain Ridge, and you won’t forget the
breathtaking views of Weiss Lake. This 200+ acre park has boulders as large as
200 feet tall, dating back 300 million years to the Pennsylvanian Period. With
one natural arch, eight mountain springs, miles of trail and rock climbing, it
is truly an adventure. This site was also used in the 2006 film Failure to
Launch with Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Weiss Lake

Centre

This 30,200 acre impoundment of the Coosa, Chattoga and Little Rivers
offers 447 miles of shoreline. The popularity of this location is reflected in
the fact that more out-of-state fishing licenses are issued here than any other
location in Alabama.

Little River Canyon

Located near Fort Payne, the Little River flows, for most of its
length, atop Lookout Mountain in Northeast Alabama. These spectacular river and
canyon systems are surrounded by Appalachian Plateau, forested uplands,
waterfalls, streams, pools, boulders and sandstone cliffs. As the deepest
canyon in Alabama, the setting provides a variety of recreational activities.

JSU Field Schools

Now in its seventeenth year, the field schools offer many programs to
explore the Mountain Longleaf Region of Northeast Alabama. Visit the Little
River Canyon Center, the Planetarium at JSU, the Choccolocco Frog Pond, or join
a hike on one of the many area trails. For more information, visit www.jsu.edu/epic/field_schools.

Loyd Owens Canoe Trail

Cleburne County

This trail meanders along the Tallapoosa River from the Georgia line to
Highway 431.

Lake Wedowee

Randolph County

The Harris Reservoir, a 11,000 acre Alabama Power Lake with 270 miles
of shoreline, is formed by the convergence of the Little and Big Tallapoosa
Rivers between Wedowee and Lineville. The Flat Rock Park, a partially submerged
granite outcrop that forms a natural beach, is home to bald eagles.

Lake Chinnabee

Clay County

Built in the late 1930s, Lake Chinnabee is home to the Chinnabee Silent
Trail, a six mile, one way hiking trail that runs into the Pinhoti Trail. Nearby
waterfalls include Devils Den, High Falls, and Cheaha Falls.

Pinhoti Hiking Trail

Talladega, Cleburne and Calhoun Counties

Alabama’s premiere long distance recreation trail spans 110 miles as it
traverses the ridges and crests of the Talladega Mountains. Starting in the
northern end of the Talladega National Forest and extend through the Georgia
Line to the Appalachian Trail.

Talladega National Forest and Scenic Drive

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, this national forest
offers numerous recreational opportunities including, campgrounds, mountain
lakes, the Talladega Scenic Byway and the Pinhoti Trail. The 26 mile Talladega
Scenic Drive provides a drive to travel the backbone of the Horseblock, Cheaha
and Adam’s Gap Mountains. There are several overlooks, trails and points of
interest along the way.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

With each morning’s sunrise over the mountains, whether in a car, on
foot or pedaling away, the natural beauty of Calhoun County shines through. A
cloudlike mist rises from the mountains, and a chill in the air greets the new
day.

Calhoun County is rich in natural beauty, with stretches of forest and
mountainous landscapes creating a picturesque surrounding to the historical
architecture of our downtown municipalities.

Calhoun County is abundant in Native American history as well. From
Chief Ladiga, to Ohatchee and the Creek and Indian War, artifacts have been
unearthed, some of which are displayed at the Janney Furnace Museum.

Calhoun County has many locations of
historical significance and architecture. From the Freedom Rider Murals to the
Church of St. Michaels and All Angels and The Victoria, the historic driving
tour alone is worth a trip. Many of our attractions center around nature, from
Terrapin Creek to Cheaha State Park, to trails like Coldwater and the Pinhoti.

Many area restaurants are featured in Alabama’s 100 Dishes to Eat
Before You Die, and they too are a must during each stay. Places like Classic
on Noble, Cooter Brown’s, and Garfrerick’s serve up delectable dishes like Shrimp and Grits, Pecan Encrusted
Grouper and Dry Rub Ribs better than you find in Memphis.

It’s no wonder that authors like Beth Duke and Pulitzer Prize winning
Rick Bragg felt drawn to capture the settings, history and stories of this
region in their work. Make your own memories and stories to share. Visit
Northeast Alabama where adventures are abound. It’s just natural to relax and
enjoy the scenery, the food, and the people.